"He's a nice enough lad, not a problem, but he had his reasons for not coming to the club and we have got to respect that and wish him well.

"My job is to try to keep bringing players into the club that we think will improve us, and you are not going to win them all.

"We are disappointed, but life goes on. We wish Leighton well and we just kick on and continue to look to bring players into the club."

Keane and his players head for a three-day tour of Ireland on Friday with five new additions - Greg Halford, Russell Anderson, Michael Chopra, Kieran Richardson and Dickson Etuhu.

However, Keane, chairman Niall Quinn and chief executive Peter Walker are to continue their efforts to strengthen the squad, with West Brom full-back Paul McShane thought to be high on their wish list.

But Keane said he had no interest in Manchester United's Alan Smith or Kilmarnock striker Steven Naismith.